Local

Gearing up for the LA River Ride

Bicyclists are wheeling their way along the Los Angeles River Sunday morning as part of the annual L.A. River Ride.

The 51-mile ride goes from the Autry in Griffith Park to Marina Green Park in Long Beach but you don't have to bike the entire way. Cyclists can choose one of seven different distances that offer plenty of stops with food and music.

Tamika Butler, executive director for the L.A. County Bicycle Coalition, the organization that hosts the annual fundraiser, says they want to see all 51 miles of the L.A. River connect in a way that includes every communities along its banks.

"The L.A. River goes through South East LA on its way to Long Beach. It's going through places like Cudahy, like Bell and Bell Gardens, and all of those southeast cities. There are folks there, they're highly industrial, but if you go to a lot of those factories, there are tons of bikes parked outside. So for us it's really thinking about all riders," she tells KPCC.

On Saturday, a half-mile stretch of the L.A. River trail opened in Studio City, closing one of the many gaps that prevent residents from walk or bicycling the riverside path.

The L.A. County Bicycle Coalition also hosts bike rides the first Sunday of every month.